Five human rights organizations are appealing to the Council of State, the most the highest French administrative court, in order to obtain a decision ordering the the French government to adopt effective measures to prevent actors French economic and financial institutions are contributing to Israel's illegal occupation of Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
Paris, July 22, 2026. The applicants – the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Lawyers for Respect for International Law (JURDI), the Human Rights League (LDH), and Law for Palestine – argue that France has failed to meet its obligations under international law by not implementing effective measures to prevent companies and financial institutions from engaging in commercial, investment, and other activities that support Israel's continued unlawful presence in the OPT. They are represented by Henri Thulliez, Yacine Baita And Frédéric Thiriez, and advised by the Open Society Justice Initiative. The defendants include the French Prime Minister as well as several ministers in charge of the economy, foreign affairs, and trade. This legal action is based on the Advisory Opinion issued in July 2024 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in which the Court held that Israel's continued presence in the OPT is unlawful, specifying that all States have an obligation not to recognize as lawful the situation arising from Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and not to provide any aid or assistance to its maintenance. The Court further specified that States must take measures to prevent trade and investment relationships that contribute to the unlawful occupation. The applicants argue that France has not translates these obligations into concrete regulatory or coercive measures.
The ICJ's position on the obligations of third States with regard to the situation in the OPT underlines that the occupation is made possible not only by military force, but also by economic support from third-party states and private actors, to the detriment of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and sovereignty over their land and resources.
James Goldston, Executive Director of the Open Society Justice Initiative, he said:« There The International Court of Justice left no room for doubt: States cannot remain spectators face their legal obligations. This appeal aims to ensure that France ceases any form of aid or assistance to the illegal occupation of Palestine. International law it only has force if states are prepared to implement it in practice. »
Ihsan Adel, founder and president of Law for Palestine, he emphasized that« the States do not can comply with their obligations as long as products from the colonies remain present in their markets and that companies pursue commercial activities linked to the colonies ».
Alexis Deswaef, President of the FIDH, presented this appeal as "« an opportunity for the Council of State to take a firm position and reaffirm the responsibilities of the State to regarding the activities of companies in occupied Palestine ».
Ghislain Poissonnier, Vice-President of JURDI, he said:« JURDI notes that, despite Despite the ICJ's 2024 advisory opinion declaring the occupation illegal, France has not acted., necessitating legal action to end its economic support for the illegal situation in occupied Palestine. »
Although France recognized the State of Palestine in September 2025, it has not implemented effective measures regarding economic and trade relations linked to the illegal occupation.
Before initiating legal proceedings, the applicants had formally requested the French government to adopt measures consistent with the binding legal obligations set forth in the ICJ advisory opinion, specifically by preventing trade and investment that support the illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and ensuring that French companies do not contribute to it. The government did not respond, but on June 30, 2026, issued new recommendations to French companies operating in the settlements, warning them that they risk being found guilty of violating international law.
The applicants argue that the government's failure to respond to their request constitutes an implicit administrative decision, allowing them to challenge it before the Council of State. They contend that this inaction contradicts France's stated public support for the advisory opinion and its recognition of the duty to distinguish between Israel and the OPT in economic relations.
Based on evidence showing that French companies continue to operate in sectors such as transport, construction, finance and commercial services in the TPO, the applicants argue that France has failed to its obligation to regulate the conduct of businesses and to prevent them from
contribute to violations of the rights of Palestinians.
They are asking the Council of State to declare the State's inaction illegal and to order measures guaranteeing respect for international law, including restrictions on trade and investments related to the occupation, safeguards for businesses, and monitoring mechanisms.
Moreover, this procedure comes at a time when Palestinians in Gaza continue to be forcibly displaced, starved, mutilated and killed, in violation of the three interim orders issued by the ICJ in the case of South Africa v. Israel under the Genocide Convention.
Nathalie Tehio, president of the LDH, warned that "« the involvement The growing number of businesses risks facilitating the annexation of the West Bank.» and stated that « France must adopt binding measures to guarantee respect for the law international, including the ICJ advisory opinion ».
The applicants have argued for decades that Israel exercises unlawful control over Palestinian territory and resources, with the support of third states and private actors who derive economic benefit from the occupation, without effective measures being taken against the crimes committed as part of the occupation in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Tayab Ali, director of the ICJP, he emphasized that« this appeal aims to go beyond the simple statements of concern to move towards genuine accountability, by asserting that international legal obligations must be enforceable before independent courts ».
The applicants believe that this procedure offers an important opportunity to clarify the scope of States' obligations following the ICJ's 2024 advisory opinion, and to establish guidelines on how governments should regulate the conduct of companies linked to serious violations of international law.
They argue that in the absence of such action, legal obligations are likely to remain theoretical rather than effective, and that judicial intervention is necessary to ensure that France fully respects its obligations under international law.
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